NRL facing player revolt on eve of State of Origin series over unresolved CBA

COOPER Cronk has launched an attack on the NRL administration as negotiations for the players’ collective bargaining agreement reached breaking point.

Cooper Cronk. The Queensland State of Origin side during an opposed session at Sanctuary Cove. Pic Peter Wallis

RUGBY league is facing a player revolt on the eve of its showpiece State of Origin series.

Champion halfback Cooper Cronk launched an extraordinary attack on the besieged NRL administration Sunday night as negotiations for the players’ collective bargaining agreement reached breaking point.

Putting aside his personal friendship with CEO Todd Greenberg, Cronk accused the NRL of misrepresenting the players’ views in an email sent to the 16 NRL clubs last week that was leaked to the media over the weekend.

“The governing body of the game has tried to mislead people,” Cronk said. “We understood there was always going to be some robust conversations.

The NRL and the RLPA are yet to come to an agreement regarding the 2018 salary cap.

“But to find out our proposal had been reworded, misread and misrepresented is disappointing and something we don’t take lightly.

“When you fracture things in a business negotiation, you (the players) sometimes have to take the next step.”

In the email sent to the clubs last week, the NRL claimed: “The RLPA/player proposal is unaffordable and shows an apparent disregard for the game.”

The players are seeking a salary cap of between $9.1 million and $9.9 million over the next five years as part of a 29 per cent share of revenue generated from the game.

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That Cronk was prepared to briefly break from the Maroons’ State of Origin camp on Sunday just three days before the game illustrates the anger of senior players across the board.

“I can guarantee every player, whether it’s Queensland or NSW, the Cowboys or South Sydney, is behind what we’re trying to achieve,” Cronk said.

“Every player is rock solid. No one wanted it to take a turn for the worse but it has.

“Up until this stage we’ve done things in good character and in good faith.

“But what’s happened has inflamed the situation. What action we can take is now being considered.”

The latest dispute could not have come at a worse time for an administration still reeling from the botched funding agreements with the 16 clubs.

Cronk has savaged the NRL’s manner of negotiating.

Cronk would not rule out disruptions to the State of Origin series unless the parties can reach a closer agreement in the next round of talks on June 5 and 6.

“We expect the NRL to turn up to the negotiation table and do business in good faith,” Cronk said.

“If that doesn’t happen, we’ll take another step.

“The prosperity of the NRL is at the forefront of what we’re trying to achieve.

“We’ve always wanted a genuine partnership and we’ve got the whole game’s vision at heart.

“You always enter negotiations like this one with respect but it’s got to be two ways.”

Veteran Parramatta Eels skipper Tim Mannah has backed Cronk’s comments.

“The NRL is trying to drive a wedge between the players and the clubs,” Mannah said.

“They’ve been extremely misleading and it’s becoming increasing frustrating for players.”

Originally published as NRL facing player revolt on eve of State of Origin series over unresolved CBA